Afghanistan's president said Sunday that he will not free thousands of Taliban prisoners ahead of all-Afghan power-sharing talks set for next week, publicly disagreeing with a timetable for a speedy prisoner release laid out just a day earlier in a U.S.-Taliban peace agreement.

India has welcomed the signing of the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement and the issuance of a joint declaration between the Afghan and U.S. governments, saying that New Delhi supports all opportunities that could bring peace, security and stability in Afghanistan and end violence.

India has welcomed the signing of the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement and the issuance of a joint declaration between the Afghan and U.S. governments, saying that New Delhi supports all opportunities that could bring peace, security and stability in Afghanistan and end violence.

The governor of Afghanistan's northern Kunduz province Abdul Jabbar Naemi has called upon the Taliban militants to plant saplings during the seven-day reduction in violence, or partial truce, observed since Feb. 22.